ISLAMABAD
ONLINE
Senate Defence Committee Chairman Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed said that parliamentary oversight of the defence spending was a must to ensure good governance and transparency.
Underlining the need for more transparency in the defence budget, Mushahid said that the committee introduced innovative approaches and new traditions to revisit the defence paradigm through dialogues, discussions and public hearings involving all the stake holders. He said that the public hearings initiated by the committee have received wide acknowledgment.
During the meeting, members of the committee termed it a good beginning as the figures of the defence budget were being shared with the committee. The chairman and members of the Senate Defence Committee expressed satisfaction over the ‘frank and honest’ briefing by the Ministry of Defence and praised the professionalism of the senior officers present led by Defence secretary and others including Defence additional secretary.
Members of the committee paid glowing tributes to the sacrifices of armed forces in Operation Zarb-e-Azb and said that their resolve was undeterred to root out the menace of terrorism. The chairman and members of the committee warmly welcomed the new Defense Secretary Lt Gen (r) Alam Khattak and praised his professionalism.
Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed observed that national security is of paramount significance and unanimity of opinion exists among all sheds of thought in this regards. He said that there were multiple power centres in the country now and dimensions of the national security have broadened. He further remarked that the Committee would continue to serve as a bridge between Khaki and Mufti because harmonious civil-military relations are vital for state stability.
Senator Mushahid observed that parliament has to lead with ideas, issues and initiatives and in this regard play a proactive role in institutional building.
Earlier, Ministry of Defence secretary gave a detailed presentation on the defence budget besides clarifying the misperceptions about the defence spending.
Senators Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, Farhatullah Babar, Mrs Sehar Kamran , Raja Muhammad Zafarul Haq, Haji Muhammad Adeel, Malik Muhammad Rafique Rajwana, Dr Abudl Qayoom Soomro, Abdul Rauf and Syed Tahir Hussain Mashhadi and committee secretary Maj(r) Husnain Haider attended the committee meeting.
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